The Triplet Genetic Code: Key to Living Organisms

Lynn E. H. Trainor9810244673, 9810244681, 9789810244675

Discusses concisely the genetic code–what it is and how it provides the key to molecular biology. For professionals and students in fields related to biology, as well as general readers. Softcover. Hardcover also available.

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Table of contents :
FOREWORD……Page 6
PREFACE……Page 10
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS……Page 12
COPYRIGHT PERMISSION FOR FIGURES……Page 13
Contents……Page 14
1. INTRODUCTION……Page 18
2. WHAT IS LIFE?……Page 24
3. THE NUCLEIC ACIDS DNA AND RNA……Page 28
4. PROTEINS -THE MOLECULES OF LIFE……Page 42
5. PINNING DOWN THE CODE……Page 48
6. DESCRIPTION OF THE GENETIC TRIPLET CODE……Page 56
7. ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE GENETIC CODE……Page 62
8. A PHYSICAL APPROACH TO GENETIC ORIGINS……Page 68
8.1 Codon Bias in Viral Genes – A Thermodynamic Theory……Page 69
8.2 Cluster Analysis in Codon Space……Page 73
8.3 The Tetrahedral Representation of Codon Space……Page 79
9. REDUCTIONISM VERSUS HOLISM……Page 88
10. CULTURAL AND MATERIAL IMPACTS OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY……Page 94
GLOSSARY……Page 104
APPENDIX A. PEPTIDE BONDS AND PROTEIN STRUCTURE……Page 118
APPENDIX B. PROCEDURE FOR INTRODUCING A METRIC FREE DISTRIBUTION OF POINTS IN CODON SPACE……Page 122
APPENDIX C. FUN WITH TETRAHEDRA……Page 124
APPENDIX D. GENETIC ENGINEERING……Page 126
REFERENCES……Page 130
INDEX……Page 136